Archival Discourses

Archival Discourses, the International Intellectual History of Archival Studies Research Network, is an informal network of archival studies scholars formed in 2018 to promote the critical study of the intellectual history of archival studies in different national, cultural, juridical and social contexts.

The network was established following discussions – long present in the literature – about the need for a clearer picture of the development of archival practices, theories and traditions in different national and social contexts, and their transposition and movement over time. The objective of the Archival Discourses network is to look critically at this history to better understand inherited ideas and present day norms.

Archival Discourses pursues this objective by promoting the translation of canonical archival texts across languages, encouraging new research in archival and administrative history, particularly history that situates current issues and developments in historical context, and by providing forums for sharing information with practitioners of archival science and scholars in other fields.